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Bissette honored with Long Leaf Pine Award, talks UNC policy

John Boyle, jboyle@citizen-times.com
Published 4:51 p.m. ET April 27, 2016

Former Asheville Mayor Lou Bissette received the state's highest honor Wednesday, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.(Photo: John Boyle/jboyle@citizen-times.com)

In nearly a half-century of practicing law, Lou Bissette has established a reputation as a pretty sharp guy, but he got totally hoodwinked Wednesday afternoon.

"Joe has done it to me again," Bissette said in addressing the Leadership Asheville Forum at Asheville Country Club and referring to his law partner, Joe McGuire. "(My wife) Sara, tells me I'm so non-observant, and it's true."

Bissette thought he was simply slated to address the forum in his role as chairman of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, along with fellow Asheville resident Roger Aiken, the board's vice chair. But a much bigger honor was in store — Bissette was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian award, recognizing public service.

A former mayor of Asheville who has served on numerous charitable, civic and educational boards, Bissette joins a prestigious list of Long Leaf Pine recipients, including writer Maya Angelou, basketball star Michael Jordan, television star Andy Griffith and former University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith.

In hindsight, Bissette acknowledged he missed a few clues about the impending honor. First of all, he wondered why his wife came to the meeting when she can hear him talk anytime, as he said.

Then he noticed that most of his law partners also were in attendance. Also, a week ago, McGuire had "about hit the roof" when Bissette said he might not be able to make the meeting because of a UNC board meeting in Chapel Hill on Wednesday (he and Aiken teleconferenced into the meeting).

McGuire, presented the award on behalf of Gov. Pat McCrory, noting that Bissette "is viewed as one of North Carolina's foremost civic leaders."

Bissette expressed his deep appreciation — and "an incredible surprise" — at getting the award, then he and Aiken offered summaries of the state of the UNC system and its challenges. Bissette noted that he and Aiken, a former Buncombe County School Board Chairman, represent the first time Western North Carolina has had the top two spots on the board.

The system comprises 16 campuses, including UNC Asheville, Western Carolina University and Appalachian State University.

Bissette noted that the statewide system has 225,000 students, a $9.5 billion budget and is the state's largest employer, with 60,000 employees. The system received $2.6 billion from the state in its last budget.

While Bissette, a Republican, allowed that funding has tightened, he said North Carolina does better than most other states. For example, he said, the state funds about 40 percent of the cost of a student attending UNC Chapel Hill, compared to 6 percent at the University of South Carolina and 10 percent at the University of Virginia.

"I hear people complaining all the time, 'Oh gosh, the state doesn’t give you enough money,'" Bissette said. "Well, we’re one of the top two or three states in the union in the amount of support that comes from the state government to the university system."

Bissette said the state has made cuts in recent years because of a sluggish economy.

"But we’re doing well and we have not been abandoned by our political leaders," he said.

The 32-member board of governors is a political body, with the House of Representatives appointed half and the Senate the other half. Bissette noted that when Democrats controlled the state, the board consisted of mostly or all Democrats, and now that the Republicans are in charge the board's members are mostly or all Republicans.

"I don't like that," Bissette said. "I believe it should be more balanced."

Tuition costs remain a top concern, Bissette said, adding that he'd like to see North Carolina change a requirement that caps the level of out of state student at just 18 percent, compared to 50 percent in South Carolina. Those out-of-state students pay more in tuition and fees, and that could lower the cost for in-state students.

After the meeting, Bissette said he thinks North Carolina's level could approach 25 percent, although he said it's a hot-button political issue because North Carolina's Constitution ensures the state's universities are primarily there for state residents.

North Carolina also must address graduation rates, which vary from about 90 percent at Chapel Hill to as low as 40 percent at other state schools, Bissette said.

Annual expenses for a year of university in North Carolina are in the $14,000-$16,000 range, and Bissette and Aiken expressed concern about saddling students with debt.

"No one on the Board of Governors is comfortable with having students graduate with a mortgage and no house," Aiken said.

Aiken and Bissette said it's important that students graduate in four years and not extend their time in college -- and their debt. Also, students need to carefully manage their time and course work to ensure they're not getting minors or double majors that might not be fruitful.

Lou Bissette, recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Occupation: Partner with McGuire, Wood & Bissette law firm.

Education: B.A. in history from Wake Forest University, law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, master's in business administration from the University of Virginia.

Public service: Current Chairman of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors; Mayor, city of Asheville, 1985-1989; vice chair- Economic Development, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce; Vice chairman, Carolina Alliance Bank; trustee, Wake Forest University; former chair of the Bele Chere festival, among others.